New Delhi : India’s Wi-Fi sector is projected to grow into a $22 billion market by 2035, positioning the country as a global leader in digital connectivity, Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said today.
Delivering the keynote at the World Wi-Fi Day Conference hosted by the Broadband India Forum, Scindia said India is undergoing a digital transformation where Wi-Fi plays a central role in promoting inclusion and grassroots empowerment.
“Wi-Fi is not just about Internet access—it’s about widespread inclusion for future India. Every hotspot must become a hope spot,” he said, calling for affordable devices, ubiquitous networks, and deregulated spectrum to drive digital entrepreneurship.
Scindia announced that the 6 GHz spectrum band has been de-licensed, a move aimed at powering multi-gigabit, low-cost Wi-Fi services across the country. The policy framework for its implementation will be rolled out before Independence Day 2025, he added.
Hailing India’s leadership in digital affordability, Scindia pointed out that data in India costs approximately ₹9 per GB, compared to a global average of $2.49. He credited initiatives like PM-WANI (Wi-Fi Access Network Interface) for extending affordable, public Wi-Fi infrastructure to underserved regions.
The Minister urged industry stakeholders to ensure that hardware remains accessible, warning that expensive devices could become the next digital barrier. “Connectivity is not a commodity; it is an act of nation-building,” he said.
India currently contributes 46% of all global digital transactions, Scindia noted, underscoring the country’s potential to shape the future of digital inclusion.
